Article

Effect of Growing Temperatures on Scaly Rhizome Formation of Achimenes

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Abstract

Scaly rhizome formation in Achimenes cv. Primadonna was investigated under controlled conditions in growth chambers. When plants from seeds were grown at 30-25°C (day/night), scaly rhizome formation was delayed. Plants from cuttings grown at 30-25°C showed a delay in scaly rhizome formation. Also, in plants grown from rhizomes, the number of scaly rhizomes and fresh weight of scaly rhizome were lowest at 30-25°C. These results indicate that high temperature at 30-25°C retards the scaly rhizome formation in Achimenes. INTRODUCTION The genus Achimenes belongs to the Gesneriaceae. About 25 species are native to Mexico, Brazil, northern Argentina and Jamaica. Achimenes are herbaceous plants having rhizomes that develop at the base of the shoots and on underground stolons at the end of the growing season. Deutch (1974) reported that bulblet (= scaly rhizome) formation in Achimenes cuttings was inhibited by long-day treatment such as continuous illumination. However, in other reports, rhizome formation was not significantly affected by daylength or by growing temperature of 17, 21 or 25°C (Vlahos, 1990a, b). It is uncertain whether higher temperatures affect rhizome formation. Scaly rhizome formation of Achimenes was investigated at various growing temperatures in plants raised from seeds, cuttings or scaly rhizomes.

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The bulblet formation in Achimenes longiflora D.C. cv. Major was investigated under controlled conditions in growth chambers. The bulblet formation in Achimenes longiflora cuttings was found to be inhibited by long-day treatment such as continuous illumination. The degree of inhibition depended, however, on the quality of the light. High intensity far red and especially infrared emission was needed to effectively suppress the bulbing. As opposed to this, red light was found to be stimulatory. When red light (660 nm) was substituted for 20% of the white light, the bulbing was promoted over 400%. Gibberellic acid was totally inhibitory in all cases. The cytokinins benzyladenine and 6-γ,γ-dimethylallylaminopurine were strongly promotive and even inductive under inhibitory light conditions. The growth inhibitor N-dimethylamino succinamic acid also stimulated bulblet formation. α-Naphthyl-acetic acid was strongly inhibitory, an effect which could not be overcome by benzyladenine.
Article
Three cultivars of Achimenes, `Flamenco', `Hilda', and `Rosenelfe', were grown for 10 weeks in nine environments: 17, 21, and 25C combined with 8, 16, or 24 hours of irradiance (213 μmol·s ⁻¹ ·m ⁻² ). Increase in temperature increased plant height, number of nodes, number of flowers, and shortened time to anthesis. Number of axillary shoots was enhanced at 17C. Increasing duration of illumination increased shoot dry weight and reduced plant height; a 16-hour light duration compared to 8 or 24 hours increased size and fresh and dry weight of rhizomes. `Rosenelfe' responded differently from `Flamenco' and `Hilda' to the environmental treatments. Depending on cultivar, top growth and flowering were influenced by temperature and duration of illumination, whereas rhizome growth was affected mainly by the latter.